The gym, Monday

[godinakilt]

Camulus was in a Foul Mood.

You'd be in a foul mood too if your best trainer and right hand man had literally vanished from your bed the night before after finally getting him into it

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[faramir_hurin]

I've finally made the decision to return to the gym today. I've a bag with the correct clothing in it and a towel to wrap the swimming suit in. Entering the gym, there's loud shouting from someone about running laps and perhaps I should reconsider this. I hadn't planned on doing any running. Swimming and perhaps using the machine again for my arms. Also seeing if there was anything else I could figure out.

Perhaps another day. The man--who seems to be wearing a skirt--does not appear very happy at all. I don't know what I'm doing. Still, he wouldn't be the one to help me anyway. I don't see Shane. Maybe this was not a good idea. I make my way tentatively to the locker room to change. I can swim.

[godinakilt]

Camulus saw the man sneaking in and gave him a baleful look as if to demand what he was doing there.

And it's a kilt, thank you very much.

[faramir_hurin]

"Hello. I came in to perhaps swim. I can leave if this is a bad time." I don't even know who he is. From the way he's acting, someone important here or whoever was important should have come to speak with him by now.

Pardon. I didn't get notif.

[godinakilt]

"Pool's at the hotel. Not here."

Camulus was in short and snappy mood, bare arms folded across his chest.

[faramir_hurin]

I could swim at the hotel. I should. I can get something and do sword-training drills or go shooting instead of using that machine for my arms.

"Right. Thank you very much."

Perhaps the man's just in a bad mood and he's not always like this. He wasn't here before. If I actually knew how to use any of these things except the one I could continue my business. I suppose I don't have any business here.

"Sorry. I'll come back some other time."

Retconning the pool stuff, as was just told the reason for the mix-up.

[godinakilt]

Camulus grunted. "No problem." He eyed him. "I haven't seen you here. Are you a regular patron?" Also known as, possibly responsible for more of that goddamn paperwork.

[[Sorry, should have made it a bit clearer myself . . .]]

[faramir_hurin]

Perhaps just a bad mood.

"I have been here only once before. Shane--a friend of mine--helped me with one of the machines. I need to train again because I have been unable to do so and must regain my strength. But there are not practice fields here such as I am used to nor have I found anyone with time to spar. The machines take no other person but I don't know how to use them."

They look very foreign.

"Shane showed me how to use the one for my arms. I'm a ranger at home. But I need to learn more than just that one thing." So many different machines and I don't know what they're for. "I need to be able to fight all day if the enemy attacks. As lazy as I've grown, an hour would see me dead."

I am dead, and my face blanches accordingly. That wasn't what I meant to say.

[godinakilt]

Camulus moved closer, looking him over appraisingly, eyes narrow. He wouldn't let the man fight for him in this condition neither. "I have a few minutes. I can train you on some of the machines, spar if you want."

[faramir_hurin]

I'm aware of what I must look like--too thin, and much so compared with him.

"I need to learn the machines. Whatever will help with the muscles used for pulling a bow, though I can certainly still pull mine, and for using a sword." Many different things, most likely. "I'm not sure if I could still hike and climb all day anymore, likely not."

I need help with both strength and endurance.

"As for sparring, I've no sword here to practice with. I lost those when I... left the island." I'd like them back, and my bamboos. I could hang them from a tree in the park and practice on my own again.

[godinakilt]

Camulus nodded slowly, still considering which machines would be best. "I'm down one trainer so you'll be on your own for endurance and once you're on the machines. But we do have practice swords, staffs, other arms." He smirked. "I think I'll be an adequate partner whatever you choose."

[faramir_hurin]

"I understand. Whatever is best for you on teaching me. I know only one machine." I point to it. "Though if they all work similarly, then I need only know which ones are best. I can change the weights myself. Shane was most knowledgeable in how the machines are used."

They look similar and so it's a matter of which ones and how to sit or stand, I think.

"As to sparring, I judge only based on your appearance, not having seen you fight. I think you would be more than an adequate partner even were I feeling my best."

I have been rude and I bow slightly.

"Pardon me. I am Faramir of Gondor. I was captain of the rangers there though not for well over a year now. In the village two months and a place like it for fourteen months. I did train much of that time but not for several months before I left." More than I need to say but not too much--I was doing very well before September. After that... some physical work but not real training. I feel even smaller next to him.

[godinakilt]

Camulus inclined his head in the manner of a man accepting the bow of a lesser. "Camulus, god of war."

He nodded towards the locker room. "Get changed and we'll start on the machines."

[faramir_hurin]

I go to change immediately. God of war? But... That explains things and gives me more questions, which I may dare ask but well might not.

The t-shirt is plain white with the blue sweatpants they found for me more than a year ago after I was shot. The shoes feel odd on my feet but they fit--the people at the store helped me with them. They fit. I emerge ready to begin. And I may as well ask the main question because otherwise it will burn me.

"I am ready." I bow again. "If you'll pardon the rudeness, I thought Ares was the god of war. I'm not from Earth and we have no gods in Middle-earth."

[godinakilt]

"He's a god of war," Camulus smirked. "I haven't seen him in eons. He was worshipped farther south than I, by the Greeks and the Romans. My people were to the north. The Celts, or the Gauls."

[faramir_hurin]

That makes sense, and I nod. Different cultures have different gods. Confusing, but I understand.

"Oh. It was someone from Greece who told me that the god of war was Ares, so..." Of course.

"I'm ready now, for whatever you wished to show me." I can only hope I don't look too foolish. "I can even spar with you, though that's mostly wasting your time."

Sparring with almost anyone would be wasting his time. Why would gods need to practice anything?

[godinakilt]

"Hn."

It wasn't a contradiction of that fact. He was merely acknowledging it. "Machines," he said shortly, nodding towards them before moving in that direction. "Follow me."